This global scholarship initiative has been developed as part of the Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund. Being the first of its kind in Australia, the Masterclass in Horticultural Business offers a tailor-made program to assist established entrepreneurs in Australian horticulture to take their careers, or businesses to the next level. There are 22 scholarships available, valued at $10,000 each to cover tuition costs. Alongside general applications, there are several industry-specific scholarships available, with three being awarded to nursery industry applicants this year. This program offers a flexible online structure over the course of 10 months, covering several key learning modules such as: innovation, global supply chain, and marketing and governance. The structure allows flexibility around current career commitments and provides a great opportunity for established individuals to learn and develop; accelerating their careers as industry leaders.

Upskilling the next generation of green industry leaders is an important step in facilitating the continued growth of Australia’s nursery and turf industries. This program aims to show participants what it means to be a modern leader, and to equip scholarship recipients with the skills and tools to become one themselves. Through a series of online and face-to-face sessions, business representatives are taught best practice in: conflict management, communication and how to shape team culture, affording them knowledge and skills to position their businesses at the forefront of this industry growth. Twenty applicants are accepted into this professional development program ran by facilitators from The Right Mind. This program is open to nursery and turf levy payers and their respective supply chain members, and is funded by Hort Innovation using nursery and turf industry levies and funds from the Australian Government.

This scholarship initiative aims to support and empower women by providing them with the skills to further accelerate their careers, in a male-dominated industry. Funded by the Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund and Women & Leadership Australia (WLA), this scholarship aims to foster the development of the current, or future female leaders of the horticultural industry. The program aims to address key barriers that women in the industry often face; equipping them with the tools to support their career development long-term. Applicants are given the choice of three course streams: Executive Ready, Advanced Leadership Program, and the Accelerated Leadership Performance Program. A total of twenty scholarships are offered, with grants covering up to 60% of program costs and is available to women who own or work within levy-paying businesses.

This project has been developed as part of the Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund to drive greater innovation and target graduates across the horticultural sector. Drawing on young professional networks, this program encourages final year university students to apply. Successful applicants receive a paid internship in the horticultural sector, affording them real-world experiences and industry exposure. Businesses are encouraged to employ interns upon graduation. Led by recruitment company, Rimfire Resources, this project will provide a great opportunity to attract the next generation of industry leaders, and boost the profile of careers in horticulture.